Blackburn Cabins - McCarthy, Alaska

We loved our 4 night stay at Blackburn cabins- from the easy shuttle pickup at the footbridge, to the many walks to see stunning views - this was a comfortable place to base our Wrangell-St. Elias NP adventures! We loved our flightsee over the awesome mountains and glaciers, the guided tour of Kennecott Mine, a hike to the Root glacier and delicious salmon meals in McCarthy at the Potato. We loved experiencing cabin life in the woods - it was the perfect time of year with fall colors and warm sunny days!

Amazing, authentic stay, close to McCarthy! Well-equipped, gives the original Alaska-feeling Nice bed sheets, outdoor grill options, wood cabin, kitchenette, 20min walk from Mc Carthy to eat (recommend The Potatoes). Unforgettable experience!

We could not have been treated better during our stay. The cabins are great. Keep in mind that you will be using an authentic Alaska outhouse with only a screen to keep the killer mosquitos out. During the summer, the mosquitos will swarm you like bees!! We didn't get to use the shower as they had an issue with the water lines so we had to rough it. The quality in the build of the cabins are top notch!

We went to the beautiful Blackburn cabins out of season, but it was serene and peaceful.The owners were lovely and tried to warn us that it would be isolating and snowy but my son and I were intrepid and adventurous despite the warning. The shower block was frozen but Mark left us enough water to cook and bird-bath by. The cabins are very cozy and well made. We were walking distance to the toe of the glaciers, McCarthy and the bus stop to Kennecott mine - though we were there early and before the shuttles started. We walked the 7 miles instead. I would suggest bringing mozzie spray, as the little monsters were already starting to hatch when we were there. Highly recommend for a peaceful and beautiful time in the Wrangell-St Elias.

I stayed at Blackburn cabins in March 2024. Mark and Livvi were very accommodating, and provided me with a nice cabin for my fat bike ride from Chitina to Kennecott. They ensured the cabin was warm, had water, and added a couple of nice touches including chocolates and freshly ground coffee.

What a fantastic experience in the wilderness of McCarthy! Livvi & Mark did a great job keeping us informed of details prior to and after our arrival, and the employees who picked us up/dropped off us were friendly and helpful. Our cabins were cozy & tidy, the outhouse was clean, and the cookware/dishes were handy for when we didn’t want to walk into town for a meal. (We took a cooler w/ice on our road trip so we could have cold drinks & foods in our cabins.) We stayed for two nights. I hope to explore more of McCarthy/Wrangell St-Elias National Park & Preserve/Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark on a future visit w/more family & friends and stay here again. There are several trails to check out, including some next to nearby glaciers. It’s easy to walk or catch a shuttle towards McCarthy destinations. If you’re looking for a unique, quiet, & rustic experience, Blackburn Cabins will be your jam. Be prepared to be covered in dust daily during summer months if you’re hiking/walking around McCarthy - it’s all part of the adventure and makes for great memories!

Blackburn Cabins was perfect for my mom and I’s recent trip to McCarthy! The cabins had everything we needed for a beautiful few days exploring the area. We were quite impressed by the running water and stove top set up in the cabin - it was great for our morning coffee! The grill and fire pit also came in handy for cooking meals and sitting by the campfire. The cherry on top was the hot outdoor shower - definitely a luxury for an off grid cabin! PS. My mom watched you guys on Edge of Alaska and was SO excited to see everything in real life!

I am not a camper and Blackburn is about as rustic as I get. That said, they make the cabins, outdoor showers and outhouse attractive and we were very comfortable. With some patience and timing, we were able to take advantage of the free shuttle both days we were there—you do have to flag down (they don’t stop) the “Copper Center” vans that come every hour on the half hour. Keep in mind that this is the only transportation to town (ends at 7pm), so you have to walk the mile+ if you want to go other times or enjoy the bar entertainment. There are few lodging choices in McCarthy and I believe this is a much better value than the others; service and communication (if you happen to have a Verizon cell) was excellent.

Stayed here on our way into a 1-week backcountry trip, and again on the way out. Will totally stay here again. Lovely comfortable, clean cabins, great hosts, easy walk into town, helpful & friendly staff, logistics were easy. Many thanks.